The Woes of Autumn

It was summer and the landscape that Christine's window offered her a view of was the most beautiful things that she had seen in a very long time. For the past year, her mind had being harbouring too many thoughts to take the time to look at the beautiful surrounding landscape. She had missed autumn in her confusion. Her favourite time of the year. She had never really been that fond of summer, she had always thought that it was far too warm for any human being to possibly find it comfortable… And winter was just too cold to enjoy the beautiful white veil that covered the world for a couple of months. A pity really… Her favourite season had, and always would be, she thought, autumn.

Everything changed in autumn. The leaves turned from a rich green to an assortment of colours, perfectly blended together in a myriad of change. The sky could change from a cerulean blue to a cold grey at any moment and unexpected rains could fall from the heavens without any prior warning whatsoever. She loved that. The unpredictability of autumn, and the way that the leaves that had descended serenely from the trees could suddenly turn into a flurry of oranges and browns in a quick breeze and scatter, never one leaf looking the same as another. A magical time in her mind, one that could not ever be forgotten.

But… just because it was her favourite season did not mean that things could not go wrong for her. Quite the opposite in fact since nothing can be perfect. Raoul had done the worst thing that he possibly could have done. For the past few weeks he had been drowning his business sorrows in red wine and gin. Not a very good combination… Christine always pitied the barman or the unfortunate servant who was ever charged with attending him, as he got very shirty whenever he saw the bottom of his glass. When he eventually stumbled up the stairs and into their room he was beyond the state of mind where sensible conversation could be possible. On the few nights when he did manage to get the whole way to their room otherwise unaided, he was far too out of it to do anything other than collapse onto the bed and shake the whole side of the house with his voluminous snoring.

She hoped that Raoul would be leaving soon as that was the agreement. When all matters of business were finished her beloved husband would depart and she would have some free time to spend with Monica. Raoul had other matters to attend to somewhere else. She did not know where as she did not like to pry into his business matters.

Christine turned from the window that she had been dreamily gazing out of looking at the brilliant array of colours of autumn. She looked at her still inebriated husband lying still on the bed; the odd snore emanating loudly from his slightly parted lips. It was already past breakfast time and she had waited for Raoul to wake. She had planned to wait and go down with him to get something to eat. It would have been nice to get a chance to have an adult conversation with him that did not involve any slurred words. She had not wanted to awaken him, as she knew what a dreadful temper he had when he was woken from an alcohol-induced dream world.

But still, just shortly after eleven, Raoul had shown no signs of stirring. Giving up with a sigh, she checked her reflection in mirror once more before walking to the door and turning the brass handle quietly so that the click of the lock did not wake her deeply snoozing husband, and then it closed it with the same care after her.

She walked slowly, once more taking her time through the vast corridors of her friends' house. She found it easy to get around though since Monica had been good enough to give them a room close to the centre of the house and not in the far out wings of the mansion.

She arrived at the top of the stairs in the entrance hall to see the large oak doors flung wide open to let the cool breeze through. The day must have been warmer than she thought looking out of the window. She was surprised to see as she walked elegantly down the stairs, taking care not to trip on her voluminous skirts. It was then, when she reached the bottom of the staircase that she looked up again at the open door. Her heart sank and her stomach seemed to twist, like a hand had clamped itself around it.

Standing in the doorway, pleasantly conversing with Robert holding a rather expensive looking horse with a loose rein was Erik.

"Yes, Monica said that she felt like a little ride out today… You know, Erik, make the best of the weather while it lasts, eh?" Robert's voice echoed about the entrance hall.

Erik smiled and replied formally, and yet it still sounded as though he was making sure that the man knew that he was his equal.

"Absolutely, Monsieur. Will you require your horse also?"

"Ah… Yes, thank you Erik I think so… We shall be coming out in about ten minutes. Can you and the stable boy have the horses tacked and ready?" Robert asked as a second thought, turning back to the tall man at the door with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sure that we will manage, Monsieur." There it was again… that humble and yet commanding tone.

"Oh and Erik, how's the Holiday-home coming along then?" Robert queried, talking to Erik as if they were old friends.

"Very well, Monsieur. It should be finished within the month if everything goes according to plan," Erik replied.

"Oh good… good. Well thank you. See you in a few minutes.

Erik nodded and walked away, patting the horse gently on the neck as it ambled along beside him, but the butler closed the door before she could see anything more.

Robert turned away from the door but did not begin to head back to the dining room yet. He stood for a while, hunched over and rustling for something inside the pocket of his personally tailored dress coat.

Christine walked toward him and the clicking of her shoes on the black and white tiled floor, quickly alerted him to her presence.

"Ah, Christine my dear. You have awoken. Where prey tell is your husband?" Robert asked with an inquiring glance back up the stairs. His hand was still in his pocket.

"He seems to have the most frightful headache, Monsieur. I hope you don't mind but I insisted he stay in bed." Christine did not feel that it would be prudent to inform Monsieur Flarier of her husbands drinking problem.

"Oh of course, of course… Can't handle the drink! Oh well, I'm sure he'll be fine, don't worry yourself…" said Robert, fustling in his pocket again. On the contrary, Christine thought, he can hold the drink all too well…

Eventually, with a smile he pulled his hand from his pocket and walked quickly back into the dining room, standing at the doorway, making a gesture for her to follow. She nodded her head courteously and entered.

She entered the dining room to find Monica sitting at the table staring out the window. She seemed to be in a dream world, no paying any attention to what was happening in the dining room as she was not alerted to Christine's presence.

"Monica! I leave you for a few seconds and back you go into your little dream world again!" said Robert throwing his hands up in the air with mock exasperation.

At the sound of her husband's voice, Monica seemed to snap back to reality with a little start barely noticeable. But Christine noticed…

"Oh Christine! I apologise, my head was away with fairies! How rude of me!" Monica said in her usual bubbly voice. She patted the elegant silk-covered chair that sat beside her with the palm of her hand, gesturing for me to sit beside her.

"We're going for a ride today, would you like to accompany us?" Monica asked, her gaze floating unconsciously towards the large bay window once more.

"Oh…ah," Christine muttered. "No thank you. I was out riding yesterday and my muscles are aching. I'm afraid I haven't had the privilege to sit on a horse for quite a while and I'm afraid my bandy legs are out of practice!" Christine laughed happily with Monica at her comment. The real reason she didn't want to ride was the huge bruises that had graced her backside and elbow with their presence after her fall.

So after ten minutes or so the happy pair left the house, excusing themselves politely to go for a romantic ride together in the autumn sunshine.

Christine left the room and returned to her snoring husband preparing herself for his awakening…

Okay I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry that it took so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so long to get this chapter up and that it is so so so so so so so so so so short. But the next xhapter will be up soon and it will be much longer. This was really her to tell you all that I still existed. Please Please Please review.